Traverse City man faces felony charges in brother's fatal snowmobile crash

A fatal snowmobile crash in East Bay Township has turned into a felony case that puts Grand Traverse County’s handling of impaired winter recreation under the spotlight. John Fitzgerald Wright, 61, of Traverse City, was arraigned June 18 on charges of operating while intoxicated causing death and operating while intoxicated or impaired, third offense, after his brother died in the February collision.

Deputies said the brothers were riding snowmobiles together on Scharman Road near Fish Creek Road on Feb. 14 when Wright made a U-turn and his 62-year-old brother crashed into him. Investigators said the victim was ejected from his snowmobile and his helmet came off in the crash, a detail that underscores how quickly a trail ride can turn deadly on township roads and frozen terrain.

The medical response was immediate and severe. Aero Med landed a helicopter on Garfield Road, but the 62-year-old man was ultimately transported by vehicle to the hospital with a life-threatening head injury. He later died, setting up a case that now blends a family tragedy with allegations of impaired operation.

The charges also show how prosecutors are treating the crash as more than a one-time accident. A count of operating while intoxicated causing death carries the weight of a fatal crash, while the third-offense impaired-driving charge signals a deeper criminal history allegation. Wright is scheduled for a probable cause hearing July 6 and a preliminary hearing July 9 as the case moves through the 13th Circuit Court process.

For Grand Traverse County, the case lands in a familiar public-safety lane. Winter recreation is part of the region’s culture, but snowmobiles on local roads and frozen surfaces still carry the same risks that come with any motorized vehicle, especially when alcohol is involved. The crash near East Bay Township’s road network, and the allegations now tied to it, give local riders a clear reminder that a short ride can carry long legal consequences.

Grand Traverse County’s Clerk’s Office maintains civil, criminal and domestic relations records for 13th Circuit Court. The county says its criminal records search is public, but it does not show all cases, and the database is updated nightly. For residents following the case, the next court dates will show how prosecutors intend to prove the charge in a death that began as a winter outing and ended in felony court.